Peeling back the Layers of Pain
This is for every adult still peeling back the layers to understand what really happened behind the family photos.
Some of us still carry pieces of our childhood that we were never allowed to say out loud.
Some of us were taught that good families don’t talk about those things.
That loyalty means silence.
That pain is private.
But what if healing means saying it out loud?
What if honoring our past includes telling the truth?
What if we give ourselves permission to ask the hard questions:
What did I lose in the silence?
What might I gain if I tell the truth now?
There’s something sacred about being seen.
There is something beautiful about turning pain into purpose.
Mariska Hargitay told her story in My Mom, Jayne.
She showed us her scars.
And in doing so, she gave us the courage to look at our own.
This is for those who still feel invisible, unheard, or unsure if their story matters.
We see you.
You matter.
Your story is worthy of light.
At Real Talk with Tina and Ann, we honor those who are brave—like Mariska—who turn their pain into a torch. For those of us who grew up behind closed doors, this is the light we didn’t know we were waiting for.
Mariska, thank you. You’ve given us more than a film.
You’ve granted us permission to follow your path.
Ann Kagarise
Writer/Podcaster
What do I say about myself? I love telling other people's stories, but hmmmm...Let me think.
When I think about my life, I have so many chapters. I am a very compartmentalized person.
I am first of all a mom of 5 kids. Yep...5!
I am a grandma to 5 beautiful children! All gingers lol.
I am a writer, author, podcaster, oh my gosh...I've been a journalist, columnist, hard news writer for print. I have actually won quite a few awards for my writing.
I am a photographer. I LOVE getting the money shot and capturing life! I do have a website called Spectrum Photography, but I have it offline more than on because I cannot figure out how to make the pictures work on Etsy lol. I'm not good at that kind of stuff.
I very much am an autistic individual, ADHD and dyslexic. Yep I got it all lol. I'm not that great a executive functioning, but I have many great ideas! I am trying to put things into fruition, but it just takes me longer and I probably make more mistakes, but I don' give up!!!
I have had many lives in the working world. I've worked in the jail system with helping women and talking with them, praying with them. I was the director of a battered woman's shelter/rape crisis center. I oversaw the crisis hotline at the center. I worked with abused boys. I was an Assistant Director at a school for kids with autism. I was a head swim coach for 12 years. Yep--former swimmer myself lol.
I was adopted. I've adopted 5 kids. And if you want to know the history of my crazy buffet of a family lol...I will tell you, but …
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Keeping Secrets--a thank you to Mariska Hargitay
